Former federal technology official to take industry post

Phil Bond, a former technology undersecretary at the Commerce Department, confirmed on Monday that he will take the helm at a prominent tech industry association.

The Information Technology Association of America named Bond as its president and CEO beginning in August.

Bond told National Journal's Technology Daily that the job is the "kind of role I have always hoped to land" and one for which he is best prepared. He has become a public-private hybrid in Washington's tech scene.

At ITAA, he plans to steer the policy conversation around worker talent for U.S. companies, digital convergence and a vision of "America as the innovation headquarters of the world."

He said the Bush administration and Congress have embraced the goal of building an innovation-centric economy in the United States. Policymakers, he said, can play a role by setting the right environment to attract global talent, by reforming the patent review process and by boosting science funding.

"Phil comes to ITAA with an outstanding background in government service, a keen understanding of technology policy issues and a deep appreciation for what it takes to be successful in both the business and association worlds," ITAA Chairman David Sanders and president of Perot Systems' commercial solutions, said in a statement. Bond will succeed interim ITAA President Robert Laurence.

Since 2005, Bond has served in Washington as senior vice president of government relations of Monster Worldwide, the parent company of the job search engine Monster.com. His departure from the company comes after a recent Securities and Exchange Commission probe into the New York-based company's timing in granting employee stock options.

At Commerce from 2001 to 2005, Bond oversaw operations for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Technical Information Service and Office of Technology Policy. He was charged with maximizing U.S. competition and technological innovation.

Industry applauded ITAA's selection. "Phil is a leader wherever he goes and will continue to be an asset to the IT industry in Washington," said Jennifer Greeson, an Intel spokeswoman. Under Bond's leadership, she said Intel, an ITAA member, hopes the group will "continue to be supportive of efforts to boost the U.S. competitiveness agenda, including education [and] funding for basic research."

Before his move to Commerce, Bond was Hewlett-Packard's director of federal public policy. He also worked as senior vice president of government affairs at the Information Technology Industry Council. "He's a strong leader and knows the tech issues and tech politics of Washington as well as anyone," said Ralph Hellmann, ITI's chief lobbyist and Bond's successor there.

Bond also worked on Capitol Hill and in the Defense Department under then-Defense Secretary Richard Cheney from 1992 to 1993.

ITAA launched an executive search after its former president, Harris Miller, announced his resignation in January. Miller sought the Democratic Senate nomination in Virginia but lost the race last week.